📖 Biblical Definition
Elymas the sorcerer (also called Bar-Jesus) was a Jewish false prophet on Cyprus during Paul's first missionary journey. When Paul and Barnabas were preaching to the Roman proconsul Sergius Paulus, Elymas opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul from the faith. Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, rebuked him as a child of the devil, enemy of all righteousness, and pronounced blindness on him for a season. He was struck blind immediately; the proconsul believed.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Jewish sorcerer on Cyprus; struck blind by Paul during the first missionary journey (Acts 13:6-12).
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Acts 13:6-12 records the entire account. The encounter is the first recorded miracle of Paul's ministry. Sergius Paulus was Paul's first major Gentile convert, a Roman proconsul of Cyprus, and according to inscriptions perhaps an actual historical figure now confirmed.
Paul's name change in this scene is striking: Acts 13:9 has then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) — the first New Testament use of his Roman name, marking the shift from Jewish-Saul mission to Gentile-Paul mission.
📖 Key Scripture
Acts 13:6 — "And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus."
Acts 13:9 — "Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him."
Acts 13:10 — "O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness."
Acts 13:11 — "And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern Christianity often softens apostolic confrontation; Paul named Elymas's spiritual character (child of the devil) and pronounced supernatural judgment.
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Paul's rebuke (Acts 13:10) is unsoftened: O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? The recognition of demonic-influence behind apparent religious activity, and willingness to name it, is part of apostolic ministry.
The blindness was for a season — not permanent destruction. The judgment was disciplinary; potentially redemptive. The household's implication: spiritual confrontation, when warranted, may include severe action with redemptive intent.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Aramaic Bar Yeshua; Greek Elymas.
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Aramaic Bar — son of; Yeshua — Jesus / Joshua.
Greek Elymas — possibly Arabic alim, learned, magus.
Usage
"First major Gentile convert came after a magus was struck blind."
"Spiritual confrontation may include severe action with redemptive intent."
"Saul, (who also is called Paul,) — the name-shift moment."